The 2020 Volkswagen Passat gets a major restyling, but it isn’t quite all-new.
Customers aren’t exactly snapping up sedans these days, but a substantial market still remains even in 2019. To that end, Volkswagen is keen to hang on to their share in the market. First with the redesigned 2019 Jetta, and now with this: the redesigned 2020 Volkswagen Passat.
To be clear, this isn’t an all-new model. Volkswagen has substantially updated the exterior look and refreshed the interior, but the powertrain still remains. You still get a 2.0-liter turbocharged and intercooled engine with 174 horsepower. However, the 2020 Volkswagen Passat does get a new torque converter and reworked software. The result of that is a torque boost over the old version, so you now get a total 207 lb-ft of torque, rather than the 184 lb-ft of the old model. At least on most versions.
You see, while the 2020 Volkswagen Passat will launch with five total trim levels, the Limited launch model will carry over the old powertrain, according to Volkswagen. Whichever model you pick, however, all engines still come mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, and all are still front-wheel drive.
Styling changes
Much like the Jetta, the new Passat gets a more upright, prominent grille than the old model. Volkswagen flanked that grille with standard LED headlights, while the rest of the body gets slightly more aggressive lines. It sports a more coupe-like shape than the old model, and the punched out bodywork along the bottom edge of the doors give the 2020 Volkswagen Passat a bit more presence than the outgoing model. That said, in the ongoing tradition of Volkswagen’s sedan, its styling is still fairly conservative against the links of the Mazda6 or Nissan Altima.
Mind you, the interior treatment does stand out more against the old model. Its upright dash design — including the climate control vents — denote a more solid, substantial appearance than perhaps the old model did. Volkswagen is also introducing a glass-covered infotainment touchscreen, although there’s been no mention of the brand’s Digital Cockpit making its way into the Passat, as it did in the Jetta. The interior shots show the 2020 Volkswagen Passat sporting traditional, old-fashioned gauges.
Interior materials are available in three different color schemes, and those materials change depending on the trim level. Base models get standard cloth seats, while leatherette and Nappa leather seats are available in higher models.
Standard and optional equipment
17-inch wheels come standard on the 2020 Volkswagen Passat, while 18- and 19-inch wheels are available as options. Heated rear seats, an Adaptive Front-lighting system and a Fender premium audio system are also optional equipment. However, every Passat model does come with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and MirrorLink.
Standard safety equipment on the 2020 Volkswagen Passat includes automatic emergency breaking with pedestrian monitoring, Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Traffic Alert. You can get Lane Keep Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control and Park Assist as options.
2020 Volkswagen Passat Photo Gallery and Availability
The 2020 Volkswagen Passat will go on sale this summer, complete with the brand’s standard 6-year/72,000-mile warranty. Volkswagen hasn’t announced pricing yet, but we don’t expect it to be too radically different from the current models $25,295 starting point.
Stay tuned to TFLcar.com for more updates from the 2019 Detroit Auto Show!
